ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary BuilderWordsSstern
ISEE/SSATeasy
stern
Meaning: serious and strict in manner
stern in a sentence
How stern is used in real sentences:
The coach gave the noisy players a stern reminder about listening.
The librarian gave us a stern look when our whispers became too loud.
“Lee, the director, looked stern and tapped his pencil against the script.”
— from the passage The Missing Crown
Synonyms for stern
Other words for stern — strict, firm and severe — carry the same meaning.
- strict
- firm
- severe
Antonyms of stern
Words that mean the opposite of stern:
- gentle
- lenient
Where it comes from
From Old English styrne 'severe or strict'
Memory hook
A stern face looks serious and firm.